Loading device for work holders



Feb. 5, 1929. I 1,701,448

K. F. GALLIMORE ET AL LOADING ,DEVICE FOR woRKHoLDERs 6 IIIIHHHHU. j Z w Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE..

KEITH F. GALLIMORE AND RAYMOND M. WOYTYCIPI, OF FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN, vASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO lTHE I'IEALDl MACHINE COMPANY, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS., CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

v LOADING DEVICE .FORY WORK HOLDERS.

Application led November 16, 1 925. Serial No. 69,367.

The invention relates toV improvements in loading devices for portable workholders,

and particularly to a device of this character y which serves to center the work blanks in the workholder and to Vhold .the workholder against displacement while the work blanks are being clamped in centered position. l

The objects of-the invention are to provide a novel loading device for workholders which is adapted in one operation to center one, two or more work blanks; which comprises a centering means adapted to yieldingly engage the work blanks, thereby conipensatingfor irregularities and for differences in size; which comprises means for accuratelyy positioning and .securely clamping the workholder; which is Vaccurate and positive in opera-Y tion, and simple and inexpensive in construction; and which can be easily and quickly manipulated. v

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a verticalsectionall view of a loading'device embodying the features of our invention, and of one type of workholder mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the workholder taken along line 3 3 of Figure 1. y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentarysectional view taken along li-ne 4 4 of Fig. 2.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we haveshown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferredem'- bodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that we do not thereby intend to limit .the invention to the specific form disclosed, but

intend to coverf all modifications and alterna-V'` tive constructions falling within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.v c

Referring to the drawings, we haveshown a portable workholder or shuttle which ,is

adapted to be mounted with a plurality of' centered work blanks in a suitable chuck (not shown). It is to be understood, however, that'.v

various other types of workholders may be served by the loading device. The workholder comprises a hollow cylindrical body secv v.comprises a holloa7 base `.section 23 which vThe work blanks A when positioned inthe workholder abut end to end, and are slightly spaced peripherally from the sides of the' Vbody section 5 to permit centering. One end ofthe body section y5 is formed with an annular radial flangev o` which serves to engage `the outer end of and to true up the adjacent work blank, and which defines acentral open* ing'A somewhat larger than the bores a.- To

clamp the workblanks A against the flange 6,k

a removable clamping plate8 is provided which when in position closes the other end of the body section 5, and which isv formed with a central opening 9 also somewhat larger than thebores a. The clamping plate v8 .is formed with an annular flange 10 which is threaded externally, andl which is provided' with avplurality ofi spaced end vclutch teeth 11, andis also formed with an ,annular bearing rib'12 about the opening 9 to enOfage the end of the adjacent work blank. T e teeth 11 are adapted to interlock with similar clutch teeth 13 formed on theadjacent end of the body section 5 to prevent relative rotation of the two` parts.

The end of the body 5 ynext to the clamping plate 8 is Aformed with an enlarged portion 14 defininga circumferential shoulder 15. Rotatably mounted onthe enlargedk v portion 14 is an annular clamp nut 16, one end of which has a radial flange 17 fitting over ythe shoulder 15, and the other end of which is adapted tobe threadedY over the flange 10 ofthe clamping plate 8. The clamp nut 16.is held against axial movement by a 'plurality of inwardly extending screws 18,

thejends ofwhich engage inl an annular f .concentricfwith' the axis of rotation, and

which is adapted to cooperate with othermeansto locate the workliolder in centered position in the chuck or on the loadingdevice. A pair of diametrically .spaced` holes 22 is also formed in the outer face ofthe clamping ring 8 fora purpose to be hereinopen at its upper end,"and is formed along.`

to facilitate adjustment of *theA the inside oi. the upper edge with a trough 24. A table or base plate is supported on the base section 23, and isy formed with a downwardly extending flange 26 which projects into the trough 24. Formed centrally on the base plate 25 is a smooth raised surtace 27 having a centrally located bore 28. Resting on the surface 27 is a centering plate 29 having an upstanding annular centering flange 30 adapted to tit into the centering groove 21 of the workholder to centery the latter with reterence to the bore 28. The plate 29 is held in place by a plurality oi screw bolts 31, and is termed with a central hub 32 fitting snugly into the bore 28 and having a concentric bore 33. ltxtending` through. the bore 33 is the reduced lower end of a stationary upstanding centering plug 34. A nut 35 is threaded onto the lower end of the centering plug to secure it to the plate 29.

The centering plug is positioned to ext-end axially through the openings 7 and 9 ot the workholder, and through the bores a ot the work blanks. To facilitate positioning the work blanks over the centering plug 34 the upper end of the latter is beveled. Extending longitudinally through the centering plug 34 is a bore 36 from which a plurality of sets of bores 37 radiate. In the present instance three sets of three bores 37 cach, are provided. Three longitudinal grooves 38 are formed in the periphery of the centering` plug 34, and intersect with the outer ends of the bores 37. Slidably mounted in the bores 37 are a plurality of centering pins 39, one. for each bore. The inner end of each pin 1s pointed, and the outer end is reduced in size to provide a shoulder 40 and is rounded. The

reduced ends of the pins 39 extend through holes in strips 41 positioned in the grooves 38, and the shoulders 40 are adapted to abut against the strips to limit the outward movement ot' the pins. Coacting with the pointed ends ot the pins arev a plurality ot balls 42, one for each set ot pins. These balls are positioned in the bore 36, and are pressed against the ends of the pins by coiled springs 43.

Two balls may be actuated by a sngle spring 43 as shown in the middle of the centering plug 34. The upper'end oi the bore 36 is closed by a removable plug 44 against which abuts the spring 43 for the odd set ot center ingpins.

It will be evident that the work blanks are centered in the workholder by positioning the latter on the loading device. To secure the workholder against rotation while clamping the work blanks in centered position, a

pair of diametrically opposed pins 45 adapted to engage in the holes 22 in the clamping platel 8 is provided on the plate 29 (see Figure 4) The workholder is adapted to be held on the loading device by means of a pair of clamping members 46 and 47 which are vertically reciprocable in the plate 25. Each ot the clamping members is ,toi-med on its upper end with two spaced heads or enlargements 48 and 49 adapted to embrace the outer edO'es of the clam ning late 8 and is. 2D b 7 pressed downwardly by a coil spring 51 to clamp the workholder to the plate 29. Each ot the springs 51 encircles a sleeve 52 loosely mounted on the lower end of the clamping member, and abuts its upper end against the underside of the base plate 25 and at its lower end against a ring washer 53 held on the clamping member by a pin 54. The clamping plate 8 is termed in its periphery with a pair of dian'ietrically opposed segmental notches 55. To mount the clamping plate on the loading device, these notches are positioned in alinement with the heads 48 and 49 and are moved over the heads 48.v The clamping plate is then rotated to move the notches 55 out ot registration with the heads 48.

The chimping members 46 and 47 are adapted to be raised against the torce of the springs 51 through the agency of a pair ot' levers 56 and 57 to permit positioning of the clamping plate or removal of the workholder. These levers are pivoted on pins 58 in a d pending bracket 59 on the base plate 25, and extend to opposite sides of the bracket 59. Ot the levers, the short inner ends are cut away at 60 to engage the rounded lower ends ot the clamping members 47 and 46 respectively, and the outer ends are pivotally secured to a pair of connecting rods 61 which are adapted to be actuated through any suitable means, such as a foot treadle (not shown).

In operation, the clamping plate 8 is mounted on the loading device and the work blanks are positioned on the centering plug 34. The base section 5 .is then positioned on the clamping plate 8, and the nut 16 is tightcned. The clamping members 46 and 47 are now raised, whereupon the loaded workholder can be removed.

We claim as our invention:

1. A loading device Jfor workholders having, in combination, a base, a plate on said base, said plate having a central bore, a cenand fitting into said bore, said centering plate having a centering flange concentric with said bore and adapted to receive and posi.- tion a workholder, a work centering plug rigidly secured to said centering plate and extending axially of said bore, and means for ltering plate on said first mentioned plate clamping the work holder to said centering plate.

2. A loading device for workholders hav ing, in combination, a support, a work centering plug mounted on said support, means on said support for centering a workholder with reference to said plug, the latter being adapted to engage the work and center the same in the workholderyand means for holding said Worliholder and said support against relative rotation.

3. A loading device for Workholders having, in combination, a supporting plate, a fixed Work centering member on said plate, and means for locating a Workholder relative 'to said centering member, the Workholder beber being adapted to engage the Work to locate it relative to said Workliolder. 4. A loading device for Workholders hav-` ing, in combination, a supporting plate, a cenv means on said plate adapted to center the Work in the Workholder, means for holding ing mounted on said member and said niem-v lthe Workliolder in position onsaid supporting plate While the Work blanks are released or clamped in position, and operating means for quicklyreleasing said last named means.

6. VA loading device for Workholdershav-` ing, in combination, a support for a Work-r holder, lixed Work centering means on said support adapted to enter the Workholder to center'thek worlgand means for positioning l said Workholder on said support in ypredetei`` mined vrelation to said centering means.

7. Af Workholder having, in combination, a support, centering means on said support 'for centering the Work in saidr Workholder,

a pluralityof clamping members mount-ed in said support, resilient means yfor Vmoving said clampingr members to clamp said Workholder to said support, and means for act-uating said clamping members to release said Workholder. v

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

KEITH F. GALLIMORE. RAYMOND M.k VVOYTYCH. 

